Bicycle Accidents

Indiana Bicycle Accident Lawyer Serving South Bend & Michiana

Bicycle riding is an activity that many people enjoy for sport, exercise,
or simply to be outdoors. In fact, over the past several years, local
cities such as South Bend, Mishawaka, Elkhart, LaPorte, Syracuse, and
Plymouth have seen a marked improvement in local bike paths and trails.

In Indiana, bicycle riders are required by law to follow traffic laws.
At the same time, people driving cars and trucks must share the road with
bicyclists. Unfortunately, motorists often fail to keep a proper lookout
for bicyclists. When motorists violate traffic laws, they often hurt innocent
bicycle riders.

Serious Lawyers for Serious Injuries

The laws of physics explain why bicycling can be dangerous or deadly. The
weight of a car or truck, combined with highway speeds, can result in
a deadly accident. Even when bicyclists wear protective gear and helmets,
they cannot protect themselves from the sheer force of an impact with
an automobile.

Blunt force trauma, fractures, traumatic brain injuries, internal injuries,
and spinal cord trauma are common after a motor vehicle accident. According
to the U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission, bicycle collisions involving
automobiles kill more than 700 people a year in the United States, and
more than 650,000 people are treated in emergency rooms for bicycle-related
injuries. Over half of the people killed or injured in bicycle-versus-car
collisions are below the age of 18. All too often, the bicyclist receives
a fracture or a serious head or spinal cord injury.

What to Do After a Bicycle Accident

If you or a family member has been involved in a bicycle accident, there
are steps you must take immediately. First, ensure that the bicycle is
kept, no matter how serious the damage to the bike's tire or frame.
The damaged bicycle is powerful evidence of the force of the impact for
the jury's eyes. When the jury sees twisted metal, they can easily
understand how injuries to the body could occur.

Next, photographs of injuries to the body should be taken. Often, a disposable
camera will suffice to take these pictures. In some cases, however, a
professional photographer who specializes in legal matters should be used.
Remember the old adage that a picture is worth a thousand words. This
is especially true in accident cases. Juries like to see pictures. A serious
injury can be explained verbally or detailed in medical records but only
truly understood when depicted in a well-taken photograph. You can never
have too many pictures.

It is likely that the driver of the car who caused the collision has insurance.
The driver's insurance company is going to immediately start an investigation
with one goal in mind: to pay as little as possible to settle the case.
They will have investigators on the ground within hours of the wreck.
They will take photographs, interview witnesses, and try to secure as
much physical evidence as possible. You need a dedicated South Bend personal
injury attorney on your side to fight for your rights and interests.

We Can Help You Pursue Compensation

At Sweeney Julian, we know how to investigate and prepare a bicycle accident
case. We have extensive jury trial experience and know how to present complex
personal injury cases to juries.
Call Sweeney Julian immediately if you have been the victim of a serious bicycle accident.

The information on this website is for general information purposes only.
Nothing on this site should be taken as legal advice for any individual
case or situation. This information is not intended to create, and receipt
or viewing does not constitute, an attorney-client relationship.